Heinz FÜTTERER

A native of Karlsruhe, Heinz Fütterer was the top European sprinter in the early 1950s, and was elected West German Athlete of the Year in 1954, his most successful year ever. In 1958, he received the Rudolf Harbig Gedächtnispreis (Memorial Award), and in 1954 and 1957 was given the Silver Bay Leaf. His nickname was "Der weiße Blitz" (White Lightning). In 2011 Fütterer was inducted into the German Hall of Fame of Sports.

In 1956 at Melbourne Fütterer won a bronze medal with the 4x100 relay team and was eliminated in the second round of the 100 m. For the 1952 Helsinki Olympic Games he was nominated but due to an injury was unable to take part. He earned three European Championships: 1954 over 100 and 200 metres, and in 1958 with the 4x100 relay. In 1954 he equaled the 100 metre world record, running 10.2 in Yokohoma, Japan, and was ranked #1 in the world that year by Track & Field News. He was world ranked #2 in the 200 in both 1954-55. In 1958 he ran the third leg for the German 4x100 team that ran 39.5 in Köln to equal the world record. Fütterer won seven German national titles – 100 in 1951 and 1953-55, 200 in 1953-54, and the long jump in 1949.

Fütterer was educated as a fisherman first and then worked as an industrial sales representative. He later worked as a self-employed representative of sports articles for a large German sports manufacturer.

Personal Bests: 100 – 10.2 (1954); 200 – 20.6 (1955).